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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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CONDIMENTS AND SPICES
Condiments and spices are important cash crops of the district. The principal among them are chillis, ginger, turmeric, coriander, garlic and fenugreek; they together occupied an area of 6345.540 hectares (15,668 acres) in 1958-59, 6646.455 hectares (16,411 acres) in 1959-60 and 7302.150 hectares (18,030 acres) in 1960-61. Chillis however accounted for about 90 per cent of the area under condiments and spices.
Table No. 19 gives the area under condiments and spices in the district.
TABLE No. 19
AREA UNDER CONDIMENTS AND SPICES (TALUKA-WISE) IN AMRAVATI DISTRICT IN 1958-59, 1959-60 AND 1960-61
(Area in hectares1)
Taluka |
Chillis |
*Total Condiments and Spices |
1958-59 |
1959-60 |
1960-61 |
1958-59 |
1959-60 |
1960-61 |
(1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
(6) |
(7) |
|
Amravati |
1,144.935 (2,827) |
12,591.855 (31,091) |
1,406.565 (3,473) |
1,150.200 (2,840) |
1,271.700 (3,140) |
1,464.480 (3,516) |
|
Chandur |
696.600 (1,720) |
1,033.560 (2,552) |
1,120.230 (2,766) |
728.190 (1,798) |
1,052.595 (2,599) |
1,136.025 (2,805) |
|
Morshi |
792.595 (1,957) |
751.680 (1,856) |
657.315 (1,623) |
933.930 (2,306) |
911.655 (2,251) |
811.215 (2,003) |
|
Daryapur |
770.310 (1,902) |
855.360 (2,112) |
1,283.040 (3,168) |
781.295 (1,929) |
865.080 (2,136) |
1,300.455 (3,211) |
|
Achalpur |
2,227.095 (5,499) |
2,048.895 (5,059) |
2,075.220 (5,124) |
2,243.295 (5,539) |
2,057.805 (5,081) |
2,087.370 (5,154) |
|
Melghat |
489.645 (1,209) |
466.155 (1,151) |
513.540 (1,268) |
508.680 (1,256) |
487.620 (1,204) |
543.105 (1,341) |
|
District Total |
6,121.170 (15,114) |
6,407.505 (15,821) |
7,055.910 (17,422) |
6,345.540 (15,668) |
6,646.455 (16,411) |
7,302.150 (18,030) |
*Also includes the acreage under ginger, turmeric, coriander, garlic, fenugreek and other condiments and spices.
IThe figures in brackets indicate area in acres.
Chillis.
Chillis (mirchi), occupied 6121.170 hectares (15,114 acres) in
1958-59, 6407.505 hectares (15,821 acres) in 1959-60 and 7055.910
hectares (17,422 acres) in 1960-61. Though chillis are grown all
over the district, a large acreage, viz., 2075.220 hectares (5,124
acres) in 1960-61, is found in Achalpur taluka.
It is grown as an irrigated as well as a rainfed crop. The seedlings are grown on well prepared and raised seed beds in June and are transplanted in the field after about one and a half months. Interculturing is done regularly.
Chillis thrive well on deep black as well as medium black soil. Heavy doses of manure, viz., 15 to 20 cart-loads of green manure is given for an acre.
Green chillis are ready for plucking from September onwards. Red chillis are plucked and dried in sun in the months of December and January.
Lawangi and Dhobari are the varieties grown in the district
Turmeric.
Turmeric (halad) covers an area of about 121.500 hectares (300
acres). Morshi taluka accounts for most of the area under turmeric. The crop can be taken in medium type of soils. Intensive ploughing, pulverising and manuring are of prime importance for turmeric. It is an irrigated crop. The rhizomes are planted in early June and harvested in January-February.
Other Spices and Condiments.
The other spices and condiments cultivated in this district are
coriander (dhane), garlic (lasun) and methi. They together
cover an area of about 91.125 hectares (225 acres) in the district,
and are cultivated in Melghat, Morshi, Chandur, Daryapur and Amravati tahsils. Coriander (Kothimbir) is grown practically throughout the year. Garlic is planted in October and harvested in December-January.
All the condiments and spices find a ready market in the district itself. There is no exportable surplus of these crops.
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